Film splicing device



Feb. v5, 1946. R. MATsoN FILM sPLIcING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1942` 2 `sheets-sheet 1 Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES OFFICE v FILM'SPLICING nnvlion-y Robori'M'tson, Detroit, Mini., assignoi, iiy'iesiie assignments to Motion Pieters Engineerin-g Corporation, a corporationof Illinois Application May 1, 1942, Serial No; '441,317

Claims.`

This-invention relates to iilin'splioers and parl ticularly to such devices where the film e'ndsfaie severed and splicedv without moving` them longtudinally'from their positions.

Onev object of this invention is to provide' a lrn splicer having oneof thel lm ends mounted betweenV a pair of swinging clamparzns having cuttersithereon cooperating with cutters mounted adiacenti a stationary" film end, one ofk these' cut- 'ters having an extended edge' which serves" as*r a guide for a scraper`f`or scraping' the" emulsion from the lm end;

Another object is toprovide a' lm'spllcer having one filnrend' clalnpe'dbetween stationary cutters which also serve as" clamps, theo'therlm end boing` clampedu by'nieouitors mounted' on a pair'of swinging'arms, these swinging arms! being interconnected by av detent, one of the-swinging arms also having a releasable detentengaging the base of.` the splicer so that if the upper swinging arm is lifted,ithe lower arm remains yieldingly'heldY against' the base, ywhereas 4iithe lower swinging arm is.v lifted., it releases itself` from the basev and als'o lifts the. upper swinging: arm.

Another Objectis toL provide a splicerhavingV combined clamps and c uttersiforv shearing the film ends in spaced overlapping relationA ship, one` of` thecutters` having a beveled edge so that excesscement-runningoi'thelm during the. splicing operation-mayv be receivedby the groove formed between this-beveled edgefandith' edge of the opposing cutter.

Another object; is to provide a@ film" splicer having one film end clamped between' a-station`- ary-clamping cutter which is vengaged by afswinging clamping cutter held thereagainst by a clamping cam, the opposite nlm endbeing held. by

the clamping cutters mounted on swingingoarms', the two pairs of cutters being mounted' in 'stepped positions so that they` substantially simultaneously' severy the film ends in slightly overlapping relationship'.y 1

Another object isto provide a-film splic'erlhav' ing clampingcutters-'for holding:` the lmend'sf, the edge of one ofthe-cutters'beingelog-ated to serve as a guide for a' scraper'.

Another object lsfto provide ascraper for'use with' the lm splicer as set forth in the' prei ceding object, together' with a holder jig forl'sir'n'- plifying the setting of the edgefo'f'thes'craper relatively to theiscraper itself.

Another object'isfto provide means-'for shifting one of the palnoi'` clan'ip arri-1saiiiallyfs-V a's to prevent the jammingoftherlm end? clamped uponv an adjacent 'clam-p" arrn= asV the latter is being raised. i

In the drawings:

' Figure lis a topl plan view of al preferredA einf bodiment `of the nlm splicer according to the' present invention'.y

Figurer'21is a-fronte'levatibn `ofthe film splicer shown 'inFiguref l:

'Figure 3Y is# a vertical section along the line 3-3 in' Figure 1',r showing: the lm ends' after cuttinginfl overlappingfk r'el'ationslfiipVA rea'd'y vfor splicing; l

Figlie-4 `is ai vertical cross-'section along the urteilte-1:4' inFigur'e Figure/Sis ai yvertical dross-section taken' along tlieline 5-5' in' Figure' 2,1 through Y the swinging clamp arms.'

vFigure fvisf-'a'sid elevation, partlv iny section, looking tward-theigntharidlend of Fig-nre- 10; showing the scraperinoperation.

Figure 9 is a section along the line 9 9 in Fig. ur 8". v v l Fgureio 'isa iop' pian View of aj part'of theileft: har'l'dr` sideolf Figure'fl showing" the scraper at the start of itsscrap-ing'strbke; ,A

Figure vll is'an enlarged longitudinal vertical section simila'r tcFigur'e 7 [b1`1t showing v'the "overlapping film" endsafter' they have" been 4 severed and the emulsion has been' scrap''d'away at't'hei junction.'

signo'A 12 a" botioinpof'speoijiye View of" a One of the lm ends is held between this sta`V tionary pair of clamping cutters, whereas theV other end is held between the movable pair, each of which is mounted on an independent swinging arm. Thus there are three swinginggarms, each carrying a clamping cutter, the fourth clamping spaced film aligning pins 34 (Figure 3). Secured to the upper left-hand clamp arm I9, as by the screws 35, is an upper clamping cutter 38 having recesses 31 aligned with the pins 34 for receiving the latter. The clamping cutter 3B is provided with a transversely extended portion 33 having a cutting edge 39 stepped backward longitudinally away from the cutting edge 40 of the lower clamping cutter 32.

Secured to the lower right-hand clamp arm 23, as by the screws 4I (Figure 3), is the lower righthand clamping cutter 42, and provided with spaced'lm aligning pins 43. The latter cooperate with aligned apertures 44 in the upper righthand clamping cutter 45 which is secured by the screws 45 to the upper right-hand clamping arm cutter being mounted on the base.'v Each clamping cutter consists of a bar of steel or other suitable material having a cutting edge. Each pair of -clamping cutters thus serves not only .for severing the film ends but also for clamping one of the film ends therebetween.

The edge of one `of the cutters immediately beneaththe lm is beveled so that it may provide space to receive any excess cement 'whichmay run out from between the spliced joint duringv the splicing operation. The tight engagement of the clamping cutters with one Yanother prevents the now of the cement backward along the film.

'I'he movable pair of clampingarms are interconnected by a releasable spring detent and one of these arms is provided with an additional spring detent releasably holding it in engagement with the base of the instrument. VThe upper clamping cutter of one pair is provided with an extending edge which also serves as a guide for the' reciprocating motion of the, scraper used to remove the emulsion from the film end. The scraper is provided with a' blade engaging-a recess in a holder jig in such a manner that the bottom of therecess is spaced downwardly belowvrthe scraper supporting surfaceby a distance equal to the approximate thickness of the emulsion on the film. In this way, the scraper blade can be simply and rapidly adjusted for cutting an exact of this invention a'srconsisting of a hollow base I0 havingspaced upstanding ears II, I2 and I3 with aligned bores I4, I5 and I6 therethrough. Mounted in thesealigned bores is a shaft I1. The shaft I1 is held in position and against rotation by the set screws I1a..

Pivotally mounted on the left-hand end of the shaft I1 between the ears II and I2 is the hub I8 of a clamp arm I9, and mounted on the righthand end thereof is the hub 20 of the upper clamp arm 2 I Also mounted on the left-hand end of the shaft I1 is the yoke-like hub 22 of the lower clamp arm 23. The clamp arm hubs I8 and 2D are provided with integral projections 24 and 25 (Figure l) cooperating with stop projections 26fand 21 on the base I0 for limiting the upward swinging of the clamp arms I 9 and 2 I. Similarly the yokelike hub 22 of the lower clamp arm 23 is provided with an integral projection 28 engaging a stop 23 (Figures 1 and 5) inserted in a horizontal aperture 30 in the base IIJ. The base Ill is provided with a table portion Y3I to which a lower stationary clamping cutter 32 is secured, as by the screws`33, and carrying The right-hand clamping cutters 42 and 45 are providedwith cutting edges 41 and 48 arranged in stepped relationship and co-acting respectively with the cutting edges 40 and 39 onthe left-hand clamping cutters 32 and 36. The upper portion of the cutting edge 41 is beveled as at 49 so that it provides a trough for receiving excess cement which runs out from the overlapped film ends 5I) and 5I while they are being spliced. The stepped arrangement of thecutting edges 39 and 48 relatively to the cutting edges 40 and 41 serves to cut Ythe film ends 50 and 5I in overlapping relationship (Figures 'Zfand 11) Y The left-hand swinging clamp arm I9 at 'its free end is provided with a slot 52 (Figures 1 and 4) adapted to receive a swinging link 53 pivoted as at 54 to the ears 55 extending outward from the base I8 (Figure 2). Pivoted as at 55 to the upper end of the swinging link 53 are the spaced yoke portions 51 at the end of the handle 58. The yoke portions 51 at their lower ends are provided with cam portions 59 which engage the upper surface of the clamp arm I9 adjacent the slot 52 and urge it downward when the handle 58 is pressed Vdownward against the top of a stop screw 60 (Figure 4)' inserted in the threaded aperture 6I in the clamp arm I9 and held in position by a lock nut 82. This mechanism serves to press and hold the film end 50 tightly between the upper and lower left-hand clamping cutters 35 and 32 respectively.

The lower right-hand clamping arm 23 near its outer end rests upon the top of a top screw 63 (Figure 5) threaded into a threaded aperture 64 in an inwardly projecting shelf 65 within the hollow base I 0 and secured against rotation by the lock nut 66. Threaded into the threaded aperture 61 in the hollow base I8 (Figure 5) is a detent screw 68 locked in position by the lock nut B9 and serving to engage the bent end of the spring detent 10, the opposite end of Ywhich is secured as at 1I to the underside of the lower right-hand swinging clamp arm 23. Similarly secured as at 12 to the underside of the outer end of the upper right-hand clamp arm 2I (Figure 2) is an upper spring detent 13, the bent end of which engages the edge of the outer end of the lower right-hand clamp arm-23. `In this manner the lower right-hand clamp arm 23 is releasably secured to the base Ill whereas the upper right-hand clamp arm 2I is releasably secured to the lower right-hand clamp arm 23. Thus when the lower right-hand clamp arm 23 is raised from the base I0 by lifting it at its free end, the upper and lower clamp-arms 2| and 23 move upward as a unit and are held in engagement with one another and withv the right-hand film end 5I by the spring detent 1?. Y

anne-arr The. emulsionupon theil'eit-handend 51,'. which Ifaces upward, .is removedby means' of' a. scraper V7.4 (Figures 8, A9 and' I2) having a 'ver'- tical slot 'l5 accommodating a cutting blade 116'.. the cutting edge 1T of which projects :an aperture 18 below the bottom surface "795. The 'bottomJ surface t9v is` stepped below 'the bottom guide surface 80 by the `height of the-'shoulder 81 which is substantially the thickness oi' the upper lef-thand clamping Acutter 35i along its transverse extension 38.

The cutting edge Vl'l'is adjusted tof-project about 0.001 inch by letting it drop into a recess :84 iin the surface 83` of a holder jig 82 having springholding clips 86 andA 811 on its -opposite ends 88' and '89 (Figure `13). The bladev *Mil is then clamped in its adjusted position byf tightening the setA screw 85.

VTo prevent the jamming of thelm end'sas the` clam-p arms 19, 2f vand`23 areinoved past each other when the cla-mpV arm t9 is in va'raised` position beyond the elevated position of the varms 2| and 23, a pair of camslll)l and SI- are provided to shift the cla-mp yarm I9 axially as it is raised. These cams have depressed sectors 92 and 93 yfor this purpose (Figures 1'4 and' l5). A coil spring 9'4- between a pair of cupped washers 95 and 9:6 urges the cams 9G and 9i (Figure l) vinto-engagement.

Operation In the operation of the splicer of the invention, the clamp arms i9, 21 and 2'34 are raised andv separated as shown in- Figure 6. The lefthand iilm end 5D is then placed' upon the' lower left-hand clamping cutter 32' with its perforae tions upon the aligning pins Sii'. The clamping. arm I9 is then swung downward', bringing the. upper clamping cutter 36 against the upper surface of the film end 5i). The operator then clasps the handle 58, swings the link 5.3 into the sl-ot 52, and presses the handle 5.3. downward, tightly clamping the film end 5l] between the upper and' lower left-hand clamping cutters 36 and 32'..

The right-hand film end is then. placed upon the right-hand lower clamping cutter 42 with its perforations uponthe aligning pins H3, and the upper right-hand clamping cutter '4b' on .the arm 2l swung down into engagement with the. lm, the spring detent T3 snapping into position as the kupper and lower right-handv clamp armszl and 23` are'brought together.

These are then swung downward through the position of Figure 7 into` the position of Figure 11. As the members go through these positions, the upper cutting edge. i8 coacts with` the upper -cutting edge 39 to. cut 01T the right-.hand nlm.

end 5l at substantially the same time. the Ylower cutting edge 4'1`coacts with thelower cutting edge 4l) to cut ofi the left-hand film end 50.. Theiilm ends 50 and 5|l are thus severed in. overlapping relationship, as shownin Figure. 1:17,` the overlapbeing suiiicient-for themaking. ofasuitablesplice.

The scraper 14 is now superimposed upon the transverse extension 38 of the; upper: left-hand clamping cutter 36 (Figure 10'): with; its surface 80 resting thereon and lits blade- 76 extending downward beyond.V the cutting edge 379 into enl gagement with the emulsion layer 99 upon the left-hand film end 50. The.-scraper M isv then moved to andfro. along .thezextension 38 (Figures Sand 9') vso that the cutting; edge Il scrapes the; emulsion layer. off the :filmaA The; relatvezoverrv lapping positions oi the; lmizendsllli andi l', with the `emulsion layery 1&0: removed, is shown in Eig-f ure 1.1..

. 'Theright-iliand clamping arms' '2 l :and 23 are now swung upward. vanda layer of cement isv .ap plied to the upper surface of the exposed lmend 5U from. which the emulsion has. :been rei' moved'. The filmt end: 5l' is now brought down upon the cement coatedfllm end; dit .byswinging the clamp arms .2:l and 23. vdownward until .the lower spring detent '1.0 vsrnvps over the .screw .6u The; excess cement oozes out. of the junction into the groove formed by the bevel 49: (Figure l1)` and. is prevented from creeping 'back yalong the: film by the. tight engagement of the `upper clamping .cutters 3G and. 4.5 with the film. Thexilm ends 50 and 5l; are held in their :clamped over'- lapping positions until the cement has liardened. The upper arms I9A and 2l: are ythen swung upwardly, permitting the spliced' nlm to `be removed from the instrument.

The co-action of the .cams and' Si as lthe clamp arm :I9;i's moved'upward about fl degrees permits the latter to shift axially under the urge of the coil spring 94. This causesV the cutting edge 239i to. move away from thev cutting edge '48,' leaving a space vsuiiicientl for the film endl 5i' to passA through while the clamp arms 2i 'and 23'A are moved upward' or downward past the` cutter 39 when the same is ina raised position before commencing a downward orcutting stroke. Without the provision of this axial clearance of the cutters'A on the upstroke, it has been -found that the fhn end crumples up and jams between the cutting e'dgesg and @8.

While `a specic. embodiment of' the 'invention been. described and illustrated, .it willJ be understood that various modifications maybe made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the yspirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

11.. In `a film splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter fixed thereon and anl upper clamping cutter'movabl'e toward and awayrtherefrom, releasable cam means for moving'andl holding said upper clamping cutter intocl'amping engagement with a film end on said lower clamping cutter, said' cam means comprising a link pivoted tothe base forsupporting a cam latch member adapted to engage and clamp saidupper cutter to said base, a second" pair of movable clamping cutters for another film end, means for' moving said second pair of clamping cuttersl into shearing relationship: with` the rst pair of clamping cut ters to sever said film ends, and means for 'holding said second clamping cutters 'in clamping engagement one` With the other, and means for releasablyA holding one of said second clamping cutters to the support; the upper' cutting edges of the clamping cutters being horizontally offset relatively to the lower cuttingr edges thereof whereby to sever thelm ends in overlapped rela-- tionship.

2. Ina film splicer, a support, a lower clamp-- ing cutter xed thereon and anupper clamping cutter'rnovable toward and away therefrom., releasable cam` means formoving yandl holding said upper clamping cutter intoclamping engagement. with a film end on said lower clamping cutter, said cam means comprising a lever pivotally attached to the support .having a cam sur-- face for interlockingly engaging :the free end of said upper yclamping member, a second pairv of movable clamping' cuttersv for anotherv lrn end; means for moving Vsaidv second `pair of clamping? cutters intoshearing relationship Vwith :the riirs't pair of clamping cutters to sever saidiilrn ends and to arrange said ends in overlappingfrelai-f tionship, and means for holding said secondpair of clamping cutters in clamping engagement with one another and with said base; one of 'said lower clamping cutters having arecess adjacent its cutting edge for receiving excess cement from the overlapped film ends. j, f

3. In a film splicer, a support, a lower 'clamping cutter fixed thereon and an upper clamping cutter movable toward and away therefrom, cam means for moving and holding said upperv clamping cutter into clamping .engagement with a lm end on said lower clamping cutter, said`cam means comprising a lever pivotally attachedA to the support having a cam surface for interlockingly engaging the free end of said upper clamping member, a second pair of movable clamping cutters hinged relative to one another and to said iirst mentioned clamping cutters for another lm end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the rst pair of clamping cutters to sever said lm ends, and means for holding said clamping cutters in clamping engagement with one another and in overlappingr engagement with the iirst mentioned clamping cutters, one of said lower clamping cutters having a beveled portion adjacent its cutting edge whereby to provide a reservoir for the excess cement from theY overlapped film ends.

4. In a iilm splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter Xed thereon and an upper clamping cutter movable toward and away therefrom, cam means for movingsaid upper clamping cutter into clamping engagement with a film end on said lower clamping cutter, said cam means cornprising a link pivoted to the base for supporting a cam latch member adapted to engage and clamp said upper cutter to said base, a vsecond pair of movable clamping cutters for another lm end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the first pair of clamping cutters to sever said lm ends in overlapping relationship, releasable spring means for holding one of said upper clamping cutters into clamping engagement with a film end on the lower clamping cutter associated therewith and releasable spring means for clamping said lower cooperating clamping cutter to the support.

5. In a lm splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter xed thereon and an upper clamping cutter lmovable toward and away therefrom, means for moving said upper clamping'V cutter into clamping engagement with a iilm end on said lower clamping cutter, a second pair of movable clamping cutters for another iilm end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the rst pair of clamping cutters to sever said nlm ends in overlapping relationship, cam means for urging one of said upper clamping cutters into clamping engagement with a lm end on the lower clamping cutter associated therewith, and adjustable stop means associated with said cam means for limiting the clamping action thereof.

6. In a lm splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter iixed thereon and an upper clamping cutter, means for releasably holding and moving Vsaid upper clamping cutter into clamping engagement with a lm end on said lower clamping cutter, said means comprising a cam latch member pivoted to the base and engaging the upper clamping cutter, a second pair 'of movable clampacoger?L ing cutters for another nlm end, said iirst and second clamping cutters being offset with respect to one another, means for moving said 4second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the iirst pair of clamping cutters to sever said lm ends, releasable means for holding said movable upper and lower clamping cutters in clamping engagement with one another during their motion and means for releasably holding the lowermost of said second clamping cutters to said support.

7. In a film splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter fixed thereon and an. upper clamping cutter, means for releasably holding and moving said upper clamping cutter into clampingV engagement with a lm end on said lower clamping cutter, said means comprising a rotatable cam member pivotally carried by the base and engaging the free end of said swinging clamping cutter, a second pair of movable clamping cutters for another lm end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the rst pair of clamping cutters to sever said lm ends, releasable detent means for holding said movable upper and lower clamping cutters in clamping engagement with oneanother during their motion and releasable clamping means for anchoring the lowermost of said second pair of movable clamping cutters to said support. A n A 8. In a lm splicer, a support, a lower clamping cutter thereon and an upper clamping cutter, cam means for holding and moving said upper clamping cutter into clamping engagement with a lm end on said lower clamping cutter, said cam means comprising a pivoted latch lever having a cam surface adapted to clampingly and lockingly engage the free end of said upper clamping cutter, a second pair of movable clamping cutters for another film end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the iirst pair of clamping cutters to sever said lm ends, means for holding said movable upper and lower clamping cutters in clamping engagement with one another during their motion, and additional means for releasably holding said movable lower clamping cutter in engagement with said support.

9; In a lm splicer, asupport, a lower clamping cutter thereon and an upper clamping cutter, means for releasably holding and moving said upper clamping cutter into clamping engagement with a film end on said lower clamping cutter, said releasable means comprising a latch member pivoted to the support having a cam surface for interlockingly engaging the free end of said upper clamping cutter, a second pair of movable clamping cutters for another Iilm end, means for moving said second pair of clamping cutters into shearing relationship with the rst pair of clamping cutters to'sever said film ends, and means for releasably holding said clamping cutters in clamping engagement with one another and'to said base, one of `said clamping cutters having a scraper guide portion extended transversely of the lm.

10. In a iilm splicer, a support, a xed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said fixed lower clamping cutter, releasable cam means for holding said arm and upperf clamping member to the base, said releasable cam means comprising a' pivoted latch member having a cam surface for interlockingly engaging the free swinging end of said swinging arm, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon, said clamping cutters on said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, and'releasable means for holding said associated swinging arms together during their swinging motion.

11. In a film splicer, a support, a xed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, releasable cam means for holding said swinging arm topsaid base an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said fixed lower clamping cutter, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon, said clamping cutters on said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, and releasable means for holding said associated swinging arms together during their swinging motion, the upper cutting edges of the clamping cutters being horizontally oiset relatively to the lower cutting edges thereof whereby to sever the film ends in overlapped relationship, and a latch member carried by the lower associated swinging arm engageable with an adjustable projection carried by the base.

12. In a film splicer, a support, a xed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said xed lower clamping cutter, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon,

said clamping cutters on said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, releasable means for holding said associated swinging arms together during their swinging motion, and additional releasable means carried by the lower of said associated swinging arms in releasable engagement with said support.

13. In a iilm splicer, a support, a xed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said xed lower clamping cutter, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon, said clamping cutters on said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, re leasable means for .holding said associated swinging arms together during their swinging motion, and cam means for urging said rst-mentioned upper swinging arm into clamping engagement with said support saidv cam means comprising a pivoted latch member hingedly connected to the support with a cam surface interlockingly ,engaging the free end of said upper swinging arm.

14. In a film splicer, a support, a xed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said fixed lower clamping cutter, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon, said clamping cutters onV said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, and means for moving one of said clamping cutters axially whereby to provide clearance for the lm end on the upstroke.

15. In a lm splicer, a support, a fixed lower clamping cutter thereon, a swinging arm, an upper clamping cutter thereon movable into engagement with said fixed lower clamping cutter, associated upper and lower swinging arms, upper and lower clamping cutters respectively thereon, said clamping cutters on said associated arms being movable into shearing relationship with the previously mentioned clamping cutters, and cam mechanism-for moving one of said clamping cutters axially whereby to provide clearance for the :film end on the upstroke.

ROBERT MATSON. 

